Owner Woody Johnson vows Jets to keep QB Zach Wilson if no trade،
ORLANDO, Fla. – The New York Jets remain motivated to trade former starting quarterback Zach Wilson, team officials said Monday, but the long-awaited deal took an interesting turn when owner Woody Johnson presented another potential outcome.
“If we don't trade him, we'll keep him,” Johnson told a small group of reporters at the NFL league meeting.
Johnson, who last month criticized Wilson's 2023 performance, walked back those comments, perhaps in a Hail Mary attempt to drum up interest in the former first-round pick. He called Wilson a “valuable asset.” In his next breath, he acknowledged that a trade would be best for Wilson, who struggled after replacing the injured Aaron Rodgers in Week 1.
“I feel bad for Zach in a way because last year would have been great – it would have been the first time he could just sit and watch a master at work, and he didn't never had that,” Johnson said. . “He's been in the fire since Day 1, and I think that's what he needs. He needs to be in a place where he can observe for a while. He's got the skills. He can do it all .There's a reason we drafted him. No. 2 overall, and I have confidence he'll get there at some point.
The Jets, looking to upgrade the backup position, signed 34-year-old Tyrod Taylor to a two-year, $12 million deal. Coach Robert Saleh called Taylor an “elite presence in the locker room.” They will add a third quarterback at some point, perhaps a rookie. Or maybe Wilson could be that guy, according to Johnson.
“It's possible he could do it here,” Johnson said, quickly adding: “From his point of view, it's probably better if he changes his face and comes to a new place. That way he can erase the “slate. I think it would probably be better for him.”
Wilson, with one year remaining on his rookie contract, is set to earn a guaranteed $5.5 million in salary and bonuses. Ideally, the Jets would love to trade the contract and remove the $5.5 million from their salary cap, but it's highly unlikely a team would absorb that much money for a quarterback with a 12-21 record and more interceptions (25) than touchdown passes. (23). The Jets will have to eat some of the money to facilitate a trade, league sources said.
If they release him, the Jets still have to pay him the $5.5 million and they get no cap relief. The charge would remain at $11.2 million.
On February 28, general manager Joe Douglas announced that Wilson had been granted permission to talk to other teams about a possible trade. By all indications, Wilson – on the bench for two games last season – wants to move on.
Johnson could have hurt Wilson's trade value on Feb. 9 when he told reporters at the NFL Honors in Las Vegas: “We need a backup quarterback. We didn't have one last year .” On Monday, he backtracked, suggesting it was unfair to single out one player on an offense that had so many problems.
Two members of Wilson's 2021 draft class were traded this offseason, including Justin Fields and Mac Jones. But the Jets cannot find a buyer for Wilson.
Douglas said Monday that there had been “some discussions” with teams, but that “nothing was close” to being done. He declined to speculate on whether he envisions a scenario in which Wilson could remain with the team for the 2024 season. The Jets could play until the draft, hoping to find a trade partner.
“I think the trick is for it to benefit the team and the player,” Douglas said. “And I think that’s what everyone’s working towards, but at the end of the day we’re going to have to do what’s right for the team.”
